SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE:

Master of Forestry

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
19559	Master of Forestry
ORIGINATOR
Stellenbosch University
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
CHE - Council on Higher Education			HEQSF - Higher Education Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Master's Degree	Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation		Forestry and Wood Technology
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	120	Level 8 and above	Level N/A:Pre-2009 was L8+	Regular-Provider-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Passed the End Date - Status was "Reregistered"		SAQA 06120/18	2018-07-01	2018-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2019-12-31		2022-12-31

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

This qualification includes the various specialisations. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.

The (first) purpose of the qualification is to equip students with the necessary knowledge, specific skill applied competence and professional attitude in a number of fields of forestry, social and management sciences to utilise the opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and rewarding contributions to society.

The(second) purpose is to ensure mastery of the chosen field via high level analysis of new information, the ability to deal with complexity and to find workable solutions to problems and challenges.

The (third) purpose is to enable students to carry out advanced and independent research through training in research methods and to introduce them to the world of scholarly communication, amongst others by assisting them to start publishing their work on their own.

The (fourth) purpose is to prepare students who aspire to move to the highest level of professionalism and to promote an approach based on academic and professional integrity, ethics and attitude in a specific field of community forestry.

The (fifth) purpose is to provide South Africa with significant numbers of highly trained community forestry practitioners to ensure the broadening of the local leadership base of innovative and knowledge based economic and scholarly activity.

The (sixth) purpose is to stimulate and prepare learners for further study through provision of the required knowledge, skills and insight to develop as forestry researchers, and

The (seventh) purposes to provide South Africa with community forestry scientists and managers who will have a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of forestry science and have a clear and continuously growing understanding of the methods and progress of forestry science and community development and of their responsibilities to provide forest products in both rural and urban situations in an economically viable, sustainable and environmentally friendly way.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

BFor or qualification approved by Senate for this purpose. Depending on the chosen field of study, additional work may be required.

Candidates must obtain an average of 60% in the final year of the BFor or equivalent qualification

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

The MFor graduate will have:

a) Comprehensive knowledge of the chosen field of study.
b) Mastery of advanced theory and its application to a specialised field.
c) Familiarity with the literature and state of research on the subject.
d) An understanding of the constructed and provisional nature of knowledge
e) Well-developed research skills.

General outcomes:

The MFor graduate will be able to-

a) Perform independent analysis of new data and problems using a wide range of appropriate methods and techniques.
b) Critically evaluate relevant literature
c) Extrapolate implications beyond given data.
d) Use higher order principles to relate data to new, broader issues.
e) Transform abstract data and concepts for a given purpose.
f) Review evidence-supporting conclusions critically.
g) Identify and define complex problems
h) Apply appropriate knowledge and skills for their solution.
i) Manipulate abstract systems models
j) Use well-developed research skills confidently.
k) Challenge orthodox theory and suggest new approaches.
l) Interact and engage in debate with a learning or professional group.
m) Produce detailed and coherent reports.

The MFor graduate will demonstrate -

a) Mastery of theoretical subject matter within a comprehensive knowledge of a field of study.
b) Mastery of advanced theory and methodology and its application to a specialised field.
c) Capacity for independent study via the completion of a thesis or research project.
d) Understanding and application of appropriate academic and professional values.
e) The ability to take calculated risks.
f) Self-reflexivity and adaptability.

Specific outcomes which the MFor graduate will demonstrate is the successful completion of an advanced study in a specialised field of forestry and natural resource management via the completion of a thesis which meets the criteria for critical evaluation and publication in scientific journal.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The assessment used for this qualification ensures that the purpose of the qualification is achieved.

a) A range of formative and summative assessment methods such as field and laboratory assignments, written and oral examinations is used.

b) The required range of modalities is used integratively to assess whether the specified outcomes have been achieved.

c) The assessment of samples generalising to a domain takes place in a judicious and planned way to ensure reliability.

d) The criterion used to assess outcomes is largely whether the information and conceptual content of work the student submits for evaluation or assessment is accurate and valid to demonstrate the indicated performances adequately.

e) The candidate must demonstrate integration of learning by successfully completing an advanced research report, suitable for critical review and scientific publication, in the form of a thesis or other document.

The assessment used meets the standard and level of achievement for NQF level 8a.

Integrated assessment:

The candidate must demonstrate integration of learning by successfully completing an advanced research project and present it in the form of a thesis.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification serves as an entry point to the related qualification(s)

MScFor

PhD (For)

MODERATION OPTIONS

The University of Stellenbosch has a system of external peer review and evaluation of departments. One of the aspects of the system is an evaluation of the standards and assessment practices of the departments contributing to this programme.

The academic staff member responsible for a prescribed module or assignment is appointed as first examiner.

Second examiners are appointed for all modules and assignments.

Second examiners serve as moderators for all modules and assignments.

The thesis is examined by a minimum of three examiners, of which at least one must be an external examiner.

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

The academic stff of the University of Stellenbosch will be used in a manner which conforms to the quality assurance system of the University.

REREGISTRATION HISTORY

As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this qualification was Reregistered in 2006; 2009; 2012; 2015.

NOTES

This qualification includes the following specialisation:

Master of Forestry in Developmental Forestry (registration end date is 31 December 2018)

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

1.	Stellenbosch University